Explore the healing power of art by combining your unique artistic process with the study of traditional and Eastern psychology in Naropa’s undergraduate degree in Art Therapy.
Naropa’s Bachelor of Arts in Art Therapy offers dynamic, community-focused, hands-on learning, and a deeply introspective undergraduate curriculum that addresses heart, mind, and spirit. Naropa’s degree in Art Therapy emphasizes mindfulness, both in the artistic process and in the approach to teaching the psychology behind effective art therapy. Major in art therapy at the only Buddhist-inspired accredited university in the United States.
As the West’s founding school for contemplative education, Naropa integrates mind, body, and spirit in a holistic education aimed at transforming students, communities, and the world.
Naropa offers both an undergraduate art therapy program and a graduate art therapy program, resulting in rich opportunities for mentorship and career guidance. A graduate mentor will guide you through your major in contemplative art therapy, serving as a sounding board, coach, and support.
You will learn the practice and theory of art therapy at a school that puts mindfulness at the core of its curriculum. As you earn your undergraduate degree in contemplative art therapy, you will master studio techniques, explore Buddhist psychology, collaborate with motivated peers, and engage in fieldwork in the surrounding community.
Naropa University’s undergraduate program is a four-year, fully accredited Bachelor of Arts program.
The Art Therapy major is a 51-credit major during which students engage in an in-depth liberal arts education that integrates traditional and new approaches to the behavioral sciences, a strong introduction to art therapy theory, visual arts studio education, and community-based service learning opportunities. The innovative, carefully designed curriculum blends the intellectual and experiential traditions of East and West perspectives. The curriculum encompasses both art therapy courses as well as significant credits in visual arts, world art history, and psychology, with a field placement in the senior year.
A Bachelor of Arts degree (120 credits) consists of a Core Curriculum (24 credits) and at least one major, as well as minors and/or elective courses of the student’s choosing. The Art Therapy Major has a total of 51 credit hours.
Gateway (9 Credits)
3-D Design: Choose 3 credits
Drawing & Perception: Choose 3 credits
Painting: Choose 3 credits
Studio Immersion Elective: Choose 3 Credits
Historical and Contemplative Perspectives (6 Credits):
Required:
Choose 3 Credits:
Milestone (18 Credits)
Capstone (6 Credits)
Total Credits: 51
Explore a short, self-paced course with sample classes, teachings from faculty, and real stories from students and alumnx about their experience. Get a feel for how learning happens here through reflection, practice, and real-world application.
Naropa’s unique Bachelor of Arts in Art Therapy not only offers a vibrant arts community and experiential learning, it also delivers a deeply introspective undergraduate curriculum aimed at healing you, your future clients, and the world.
With the undergraduate major in art therapy, students can choose between two culminating, senior-year experiences: the Field Placement or the Internship. Both opportunities provide career-relevant learning in art therapy and integrate community-oriented skills such as grassroots organizing, grant writing, and policy research.
Naropa uniquely offers both an undergraduate art therapy program and a graduate art therapy program, resulting in rich opportunities for mentorship and career guidance. Further your studies after completing your bachelor's with our graduate program: Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Concentration in Transpersonal Art Therapy.
The BA Degree in Art Therapy’s curriculum includes art therapy courses, significant credits in visual arts, world art history, and Buddhist psychology. Collaborate with motivated peers and engage in fieldwork in the surrounding community, following in the footsteps of art therapy pioneers.
The undergraduate major in art therapy instills mindfulness in art, relationships, and self-knowledge through courses like Buddhist Psychology and Contemplative Ceramics, preparing students for meaningful lives beyond school.
As one of the country’s few undergraduate art therapy programs paired with a graduate art therapy program, the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art Therapy is uniquely positioned to provide mentorship opportunities. Naropa’s art therapy mentorship program prepares undergraduates to excel in the graduate program, pursue master’s degrees in studio art, or step into meaningful careers as art instructors, art coaches, or mental health workers.
Learn to look inward as a first step in reaching out to help others.
Receive mindful mentorship that gives you a head start in graduate school.
Cultivate confidence and dignity in your work as an artist and art therapist.
Follow in the footsteps of art therapy pioneers.
Refine communication skills through hands-on learning in diverse settings.
Upon completing Naropa’s degree in Art Therapy, students will be equipped to embark on diverse paths, such as pursuing master’s degrees in studio art, counseling, mental health, and art therapy. Beyond academia, our graduates find themselves thriving in roles like art instructors, caseworkers, art coaches, mental health professionals, and beyond. The deep understanding of art therapy and visual literacy gained here extends its reach into many career possibilities.
I know that when I finish the [art therapy] program here at Naropa, I will be set up for and have a lot of advantages when entering grad school.
A BA in Art Therapy opens up several career paths and opportunities. After completing Naropa’s Degree in Art Therapy, you will be equipped to take diverse career paths, such as pursuing master’s degrees in studio art, counseling, mental health, and art therapy.
The difference between the online art therapy degree and the on-campus degree may hinge on variations in course content, but both programs consist of a comprehensive 51-credit major.
Yes, you need a master’s degree to apply for the Registered Art Therapist (ATR) credential. Additionally, to practice as a counselor in the state of Colorado, you will need a legal license to practice, such as an LPC. You can get your master’s degree by continuing your education in Naropa’s Graduate School concentration in Transpersonal Art Therapy or another art therapy graduate program.
Associate Director of Admissions
Naropa University’s unique approach values both academic excellence as well as the willingness to carry out introspective work. Learn more about admission requirements and the application process for first-time and transfer students.
Naropa University values inclusion, diversity, and welcoming people from all cultures, regardless of where they come from. We are excited about the unique contributions you will bring to our friendly and diverse community. Learn more about international students’ applications and admission.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to pursue an education at Naropa. Take a look at our page on undergraduate costs & aid to learn more about tuition, scholarships, grants, and financial assistance available at Naropa. You can also use our Net Price Calculator to have an approximation of your expenses at Naropa (currently based on 2025/2026 data).
Scholarships are a great way to help with the costs of going to school. Naropa University offers an array of scholarship opportunities to undergraduate students. Students may be eligible to receive scholarships through their admissions application (residential students only), by applying for scholarships, or by being nominated for a scholarship. For more detailed information about the different scholarships available and how to receive them, please review our undergraduate scholarship page.
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About Naropa
Located in Boulder, Colorado, Naropa University is a Buddhist-inspired, nonsectarian liberal arts university that is recognized as the birthplace of the mindfulness movement. Naropa offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs that emphasize professional and personal growth, intellectual development, and cultivating compassion.
Academics
Contemplative education brings together the best of Western scholarship and Eastern world wisdom traditions. Therefore, your pursuit of wisdom at Naropa means learning both about academic subjects and about your own place in the world. This innovative approach places Naropa on the cutting edge of the newest and most effective methods of teaching and learning.
Admissions & Aid
If you’re seeking an education that resonates with both personal fulfillment and global impact, Naropa could be your top choice. At Naropa, you will experience a comprehensive curriculum that integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational approaches. Explore how Naropa can fuel your journey of intellectual and spiritual development.
Life at Naropa
Through its incredibly vibrant and welcoming community, “Naropa offers a home for those who aren’t willing to conform to convention—the mystic, the healer, the prophet, the rebel, the artist, the revolutionary, the oddball—those who are incredible contributors to the evolution of society and of our planet.”—Core Associate Professor Zvi Ish-Shalom
The Naropa Difference
How is Naropa different from other universities? At Naropa, a liberal arts education balances rigorous academics with powerful interpersonal skills and self-awareness to educate the whole person. Naropa’s contemplative approach is inspired by Buddhist philosophy and the conviction that we can build a diverse, contemplative, enlightened society when we have transformed education to affirm the basic goodness of every person.
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